Walls were given towers at regular intervals to provide more scathing fire from archers, and the construction of wooden hoardings which overhung the top of the wall was for the same purpose. In the Low Countries, where this was often not possible, the moat was made extremely wide. The outer walls of a castle (and sometimes even smaller cities) were protected by a moat (dry or wet) and wherever possible built on a rise in the land. City gates were such substantial structures that many still stand today across Europe from York to Florence. The gate might also receive extra protection with a barbican – a short piece of fortified wall built in front of it. The celebrated King’s Gate of Caernarvon Castle in Wales had two drawbridges, six portcullises and five doors. The particular weak point of any defensive fortification was its main access door, but this came to be protected by a tower on either side with additional safety measures such as a drawbridge, portcullis and ‘murder holes’ (holes above the doorway through which missiles and burning liquid could be thrown down). (Pierpont Morgan Library) / Wikimedia Commons
As these castles were gradually converted into stone, which made them much more resistant to fire, or entirely new castles were built and the idea of their usefulnees spread, so, too, their defensive designs improved.Ī 13th century CE illustration showing a medieval siege in France. This involved placing a wooden tower on a natural or artificial mound (motte) with an accompanying walled courtyard (bailey) at the base with the whole structure surrounded by a ditch or moat (which could be dry or contain water). Castle and City DefensesĮarly castles in France and Britain during the 11th century CE adopted the motte and bailey castle design. From the 12th to 15th century CE medieval warfare became very much a case of win the siege, win the war, especially when targets were administrative centres or occupied a position of particular strategic importance. Castles and fortified cities offered protection to both the local population and armed forces and presented an array of defensive features which, in turn, led to innovations in weapons, siege engine technology, and strategies. Siege tactics were a crucial part of medieval warfare, especially from the 11th century CE when castles became more widespread in Europe and sieges outnumbered pitched battles. Siege tactics were a crucial part of medieval warfare. The Battle of Aljubarrota (Castile vs Portugal, 1385) / British Library, Wikimedia Commons
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